it takes a lot of energy

a feather is a “dead” structure, analogous to hair or nails in humans and made of the same basic ingredient, the protein keratin. this means that when they get damaged, feathers can’t heal themselves—they have to be completely replaced. this replacement of all or some of the feathers is called molt. molting takes incredible energy for birds, and makes them very vulnerable while they are in mid-molt. so many birds wait to do their annual molting at the peak of abundant food and fine weather.  blue jays complete one entire molt per year and now is the time of plenty. keep an eye out for blue feathers.

blue jay feather